Srinagar. A day after the proposal for restoration of Article 370 was passed, there was a fierce fight between the MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday. The MLAs of the ruling party i.e. National Conference and the main opposition BJP held each other’s collar and pushed. Due to the uproar in the House, the proceedings of the Assembly were first adjourned for 20 minutes and then till Friday.
In fact, Khurshid Ahmed Shaikh, brother of independent MP Engineer Rashid, who was arrested on charges of helping terrorists and MLA from Langate, waved the banner of withdrawal of Article 370 in the House. It was written on the banner – We want the restoration of Article 370 and 35A and the release of all political prisoners. BJP MLA and opposition leader Sunil Sharma opposed this. Opposition members raised slogans against this.
The series of protests by BJP MLAs did not stop here. They reached Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh through the well of the House and snatched the banner from his hand. During this, Sajjad Lone and Waheed Para and some other National Conference MLAs clashed with BJP MLAs in support of Sheikh. There was a scuffle between both sides. Marshals escorted several BJP MLAs, including RS Pathania, out of the House. Three MLAs were injured in this sequence. Even after this, the opposition of BJP MLAs continued.
It is noteworthy that Engineer Rashid was arrested in 2016 under UAPA on charges of terrorist funding in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 2019, he is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. However, the National Conference and other regional parties are talking about the return of Article 370, while on the other hand the BJP says that the proposal brought by the Indi alliance in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is against the Indian Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Court. BJP has said in a questioning tone – Is the Congress led alliance against the rights of Dalits, tribals, children and women? Gandhi family should answer. Are they standing against terrorism, development of Jammu and Kashmir and the Constitution of India?